Article dispensing device



Jan. 30, 1962 E. H. HERMANSON 3,018,921

ARTICLE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed June 7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 illlflal L- INVENTOR.

E DWAED H- HERMAN SON ATTQRN E Y5 1952 E. H. HERMANSON 3,018,921

ARTICLE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed June '7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. EDWARD H- H/ERMANSON ATTO EN EYS 3,913,921 Patented Jan. 30, 1962 3,018,921 ARTICLE DISPENSING DEVICE Edward H. Hermanson, Grand Marais, Mich. Filed June 7, 1957, Ser. No. 664,292 2 Claims. (Cl. 221-281) This invention relates to dispensing devices, and more specifically, the present invention pertains to the provision of receptacles for dispensing pills, tablets and other similar products.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a dispensing receptacle with means for effecting successive ejection of pills or tablets therefrom.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing receptacle of the type referred to above with an ejector slide for effecting the ejection of a single pill or tablet from a receptacle while at the same time preventing the users hand from coming into contact with the pills or tablets which remain within the receptacle.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide simplified means for effecting the ejection of a single pill or tablet from a receptacle only when the means is moved from its inoperative position to its operative position.

Still another object'of this invention is to provide a dispensing receptacle in which the pills or tablets to be dispensed are stored under sanitary conditions, the storage and dispensing of the pills or tablets being accomplished by simplified means.

The present invention has, as a still further object thereof, the provision of a dispensing receptacle for deliquescent pills or tablets wherein means are provided for preventing the pills or tablets from absorbing moisture.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a dispensing device, the device being provided with an ejector slide for the dispensing of single units therefrom, the ejector slide being manually operable.

This invention contemplates, as still another object thereof, the provision of a dispensing device wherein the objects to be dispensed are brought to the dispensing point by means of the force of gravity.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a dispensing receptacle of the type referred to above which is noncomplex in construction and assembly, in

expensive to manufacture, and which is durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing receptacle constructed in accordance with the teachings of one embodiment of this invention, the view illustrating the receptacle as being grasped by the hand of the user and a tablet or pill being ejected therefrom;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the dispensing receptacle illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed cross sectional view taken on the horizontal plane of line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed cross sectional view similar to FIGURE 3, FIGURE 4 illustrating the relative position of the component parts of the receptacle as a pill or tablet is being ejected therefrom;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse cross sectional view taken on the plane of line 5--5 of FIGURE 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a detailed cross sectional view, partly in end elevation, taken on the line 6--6 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of this invention, the receptacle being illustrated as being grasped in the users hand;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevational view of receptacle illustrated in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9- is a detailed cross sectional view taken on the vertical plane of line 9-9 of FIGURE 8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 10 is a detailed cross sectional view similar to FIGURE 9 but illustrating the component elements of the receptacle in their respective dispensing positions; and

FIGURE 11 is a detailed cross sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURES 1 to 6, inclusive, of the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates, in general, a manually operable dispensing receptacle. The receptacle 10 is seen to have the configuration of a rhombohedron and includes a pair of elongated laterally spaced side walls 12, 14 integrally connected at their respective adjacent pairs of ends by end walls 16, 1'8. A top wall 20 extends from the upper end of the end Wall 18 and continues across the upper end of the side walls 12, 14 to a point adjacent to but spaced from the upper end of the end Wall 16. The adjacent ends 16' and 20' of the side wall 16 and the top wall 20 serve as abutment means for a purpose to be described below.

The side walls 12 and 14 are provided with elongated parallel and confronting grooves 22, 24, respectively, adjacent the upper ends thereof, the grooves 22, 24 continuing at their respective forward ends into a pair of grooves 22, 24' having an ogee configuration, the grooves 22', 24' terminating at their respective lower ends in inwardly spaced relation relative to the end wall 16.

The lower ends of the side walls 12, 14, are integrally formed with a pair of depending flanges 26, 28 respectively, the flanges 26, 28 being formed with finger engaging recesses 30, 32. The forward ends of the flanges 2'6, 28 are provided with inwardly extending, laterally spaced and confronting cam shaped ends 34, 36, re spectively.

The receptacle 10 is provided with a bottom wall 33 which is fixedly secured to the side walls 12, 14, and to the end Wall 18. The forward end 38' of the bottom wall 38 is, however, free of any connection at points proximate the cam ends 34, 36 of the flanges 26, 28, respectively. As is seen in the drawings, the free end 38" is provided with a knob 40, the function of which will be described below.

An elongated strip 42 formed of flexible material is seated in the slots 22, 22' and 24, 24'. This is accomplished by inserting one end of the elongated strip 42 the dispensing through a pair of laterally spaced and confronting slots 44, 46 formed in the side walls 12, 14, respectively, the slots 44, 46 communicating at their inner ends with the slots 22, 24. The elongated strip 42 is pushed downwardly for a maximum distance within the ogee slots 22', 24' and thereafter the operator thread-s the other end of the longated strip 42 through a pair of slots 48 and 50 which are also in communication at their inner ends with the grooves 22, 24. After the elongated strip 42 has been extended its maximum length within the grooves 22, 24, a portion thereof will overlap the upper end portions 12', 14 .of the walls 12, 14, respectively the portions 12', 14' being disposed intermediate the slots 44, 46 and 48, 50. Thereafter, the operator depresses the overlap portion causing the elongated strip 42 to flex so that it too will enter the grooves 22, 24.

A substantially T-shaped handle 52 is fixedly secured to the elongated strip 42 by means of a rivet or pin 54. As is seen in the drawings, the handle 52 has a substantially T-shaped configuration with the cross arm 55 there- 7 of having its respective oppositely disposed ends 56, 58,

engaging against the upper ends of the Side walls 12, 14,

the member 52 being slidable thereon between the abutment ends 16' and 20'.

Reference numeral 60 denotes a plurality of substantially cylindrically shaped pills or tablets disposed within the receptacle 10. Let it now be assumed that it is desired to dispense one or more of the tablets 60, in succession, from the receptacle 10. To effect the dispensing of the tablets 60, reference is made specifically to FIGURE 3 of the drawings.

In FIGURE 3, the component parts of the receptacle and ejector means are illustrated in their inoperative position. As is illustrated therein, the handle member 52 is moved against the abutment end 20 of the top wall 20. With the handle 52 in this position, a portion of the elongated strip 42 is disposed within a portion of the ogee slots 22', 24'. It is also seen that the elongated strip 42 has a second portion thereof disposed within the slots 22, 24 immediately below the top wall 20 which engages thereagainst. With the elongated strip 42 in this position it is' seen that the lower end of the elongated strip 42 which is disposed within the ogee slots 22', 24 is'spa'ced away from the free end 38 er the bottom wall 38 a distance somewhat greater than the diameter of the pills or tablets 60 which are to be dispensed. It should also be noted that the lower terminal ends of the slots 22', 24' extend substantially diametrically across one of the tablets 60A which is to be dispensed.

The tablet 60A to be dispensed is moved into its dispensing position under the force of gravity by moving the end wall 18 upwardly in such a manner as to cause the bottom wall 38 to extend along an inclined plane. With the tablet 60A in dispensing position as is illustrated in FIGURE 3, the operator grasps the receptacle in his hand and engages his thumb against the handle 52 and inserts his index finger within the recesses 30, 32 formed in the flanges 26, 28. Theoperator then pushes against the handle 52 to cause the same to move forwardly toward the end wall 16, the degree of forward movement being limited by the engagement of the handle 52 with the abutment end 16'. As this action takes place, the lower end of the elongated strip 42 engages against the upper side of the tablet 60A and forces it downwardly against the free end 38' of the bottom wall 38. As the lower end of the elongated strip 42 continues its downward movement in the ogee slots 22, 24, the tablet 60A causes the free end 38' to engage against and pivot around the cam ends 34, 36 of the flanges 26 and 28, respectively, thereby causing the tablet 60A to be ejected from within the receptacle 10. After the tablet 60A has been ejected in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings, the resiliency of the bottom wall 38 causes the free end portion thereof 38' to return to its position as shown in FIGURE 3. It should be noted as the dispensing operation occurs, the lower end portion of the elongated strip 42 moves into the path of travel of the remaining tablets 60 and thereby effectively prevents any one thereof reaching the dispensing point. After the tablet 60A has been ejected from within the receptacle 10 and the free end 38 has moved into its inoperative or closed position, the operator then returns the handle 52 to the position shown in FIGURE 3 thereby readying the dispensing device for its next dispensing operation.

To refill the receptacle 10, the operator moves the handle 52 to the inoperative position shown in FIGURE 3 and thereafter grasps the handle or knob 40 and pulls the same outwardly causing the free end 38' to pivot into into the position shown in FIGURE 4. Additional new pills or tablets 60 may now be inserted within the receptacle 10.

All of the above described component elements of the receptacle 10 are formed of a transparent plastic material with the exception of the knob 40 and the handle 52. These last two elements may, if desired, be formed of a translucent colored plastic material.

FIGURES 7 to 11, inclusive, illustrate a second embodiment of this invention. As is illustrated in these figures, reference numeral 61 designates, in general, a dispensing receptacle formed of a transparent plastic material. The receptacle '61 is seen to include a pair of oppositely disposed laterally spaced and substantially parallel side walls 62, 64 the lower ends of which are connected with a bottom wall 66. The oppositely disposed adjacent pairs of ends of the side walls 62, 64 are connected together by means of a pair of oppositely disposed,- longitudinally spaced and substantially parallel end'walls 68, 70. The side walls 62, 64 and the end wall 68 are provided with a continuous groove 72 adjacent their respective upper marginal edges, and the end wall 70, at its upper end, terminates at a point immediately below the groove 72. An elongated substantially rectangular slide cover 74 is slidably mounted within the groove 72 and the forward end thereof slidably engages the upper end of the-side wall 70. The member 74 has a manually operated button 76 fixedly secured tothe inner end thereof by means of a pin or rivet 78.

The lower end of the side wall 70 is cut away as is an adjacent portion of the bottom wall 66 in order to provide an opening 80 at the lower forward corner of the receptacle 61. Each of the side Walls 62, 64 are provided with laterally spaced and confronting normally vertical slots 82 which extend downwardly toward the opening 80 and are in open communication with one end of the substantially arcuately shaped slots 82' also formed in the side walls 62, 64.

A strip of flexible plastic material 84 is inserted into the receptacle 61 through a pair of oppositely disposed spaced and substantially parallel slots 86, 88 which extend inwardly from the forward ends of the side walls 62, 64 and are in open communication with the slot 82. The strip 84 is threaded through the openings 86, 88 and becomes seated in the slots '82, 82 to effectively close and seal the opening 80 in one of its positions (see FIGURE 9). A handle 90 is fixedly secured to the strip 84 by means of a pin 92.

To utilize the above described receptacle, the member 74 is moved from the position shown in FIGURES 9 and 10 forwardly in the slot 72 and a plurality of pills or tablets 94 are then inserted within the receptacle 10. The member 74 is then returned to its closed position across the upper end of the receptacle 61 and assumes the position shown in FIGURES 9 and 10.

Now let it be assumed that the user desires to dispense one of the tablets 9 4. To this end, the receptacle 61 is tilted in such a manner as to cause one of the tablets 94A to move into the open corner 80 at which point it becomes seated on the arcuately shaped portion 34 of the strip 84. The operator now pushes downwardly on the button 90 causing the strip 84 and its associated portion 86' to move downwardly in the slots 32 and 82' until the strip assumes the position illustrated in FIGURE 10. With the strip 84 no longer extending across the opening 80 the tablet 94A is ejected from within the container or receptacle 61.

It should be noted that as the strip 84 moves from the position shown in FIGURE 9 to that illustrated in FIG- URE 10 the strip 34 becomes lodged between the tablet 94A being dispensed and the adjacent tablets 94 in such a manner that only the tablet 94A may pass through the opening 86.

Having described and illustrated tWo embodiments of this invention, it will be understood that the same are offered merely by way of example, and that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing receptacle for pills or tablets comprising an elongated substantially hollow rectangular device having a pair of oppositely disposed spaced and substantially parallel side walls, an end wall extending across and fixedly secured to each adjacent pair of ends of said side walls, a bottom wall, and-a top wall extending substantially parallel to said bottom wall in spaced relation relative thereto, means slidably supporting said top wall on said device, one of said end walls having a portion thereof cut away adjacent said bottom wall, said bottom wall having a portion thereof cut away adjacent said one end wall, said cut away portions of said end and bottom walls forming an opening at a corner of said receptacle, each of said side walls having a groove formed therein adjacent the marginal edges thereof an arcuately shaped slot formed in each of said side walls to provide a chamber at said corner, said grooves at their respective lower ends being in open communication with said arcuately shaped slot formed in each of said side walls, a flexible member including a forward and a trailing end mounted for sliding movement in said grooves, said flexible member normally extending across said open corner of said receptacle when said receptacle is in its inoperative condition, and a handle fixedly secured to said flexible member and positioned adjacent the lower end of said one end wall when said receptacle is in its nondispensing condition, said handle being movable toward said bottom Wall to effect a sliding movement of said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,060,706 Rasnick May 6, 1913 2,669,349 Silver Feb. 16, 1954 2,722,309 Waterman Nov. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 20,655 Great Britain 1909 39,965 Sweden Jan. 12, 1916 179,515 Austria Sept. 10, 1954 561,712 Great Britain June 1, 1944 

